Curved-Path Rack Drive for Air Conditioner Vane Swinging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms for swinging the vertical vane of air conditioners face a trade-off between motor size and swinging width, where increasing the distance from the motor shaft to the linking point increases torque and motor size, while reducing this distance limits the swinging width.
Innovation Solution
A drive mechanism utilizing a rack and pinion system where the rack travels in a curved path, allowing direct extraction of swinging motion and reducing motor torque, with a guide determining the oscillation range and a gearbox with a rib preventing rack displacement issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the distance from the motor shaft to the linking point of the first link and second link is increased to increase the swinging width of the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane, then the swinging width is improved, but the torque required by the motor increases and the motor size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is made to travel in a curved path instead of a straight line, allowing the distal end of the rack to swing and directly convert linear motion into swinging motion. This curved path configuration enables the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane to achieve the required swinging width while keeping the motor torque within acceptable limits, as the curvature provides mechanical advantage without increasing motor size.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack's motion is transformed from one-dimensional linear reciprocation to two-dimensional curved reciprocation. By adding the dimensional aspect of curvature to the rack's path, the system achieves both linear displacement and angular swinging motion simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between swinging width and motor torque requirements.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance from the motor shaft to the linking point of the first link and second link is reduced to reduce the motor size, then the motor size is improved, but the swinging width of the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The curved path of the rack allows it to swing effectively even when the motor is positioned closer to the linking point. The curvature amplifies the swinging motion at the distal end of the rack, enabling sufficient swinging width for the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane while maintaining a compact motor size.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of converting linear motion to swinging motion and providing mechanical advantage are merged into the single curved path configuration of the rack. This eliminates the need for separate intermediate links or levers that would increase motor size, while still achieving the required swinging width through the geometric properties of the curved trajectory.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional link structure with intermediate links is used to stabilize the swinging of the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate links and their associated joints are extracted from the mechanism. Instead of using multiple links connected by joints to achieve stable swinging, the patent extracts only the essential function of motion conversion by making the rack itself travel in a curved path, thereby stabilizing the vane swinging with fewer components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack serves multiple functions simultaneously: it converts linear motor motion to swinging motion, provides structural support, and guides the vertical airflow direction adjustment vane through its curved trajectory. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate intermediate links that would otherwise be required for stabilization, reducing device complexity while maintaining stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces motor torque requirements and maintains conventional swinging widths while minimizing motor size, using fewer components and preventing condensation by guiding the rack in a curved path.
Implementation Method 1
a rack and pinion mechanism converts rotational motion to reciprocating linear motion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
Provided is a drive mechanism for a movable member of an air conditioner, in which a motor can be reduced in size while keeping the same swinging width as per the prior art for a vertical airflow direction adjustment vane. In this drive unit (70), in a rack and pinion mechanism for converting rotational motion to reciprocating linear motion, swinging motion is extracted directly from a rack (55) and a pinion (53) by making the rack travel in a curved path, making it possible to omit the conventional member for converting the linear motion of the rack to swinging motion. Because the swinging amount of a vane piece (201) of a vertical airflow direction adjustment vane (20) can be adjusted according to the rotating amount of the pinion (53), the motor torque can be reduced to a greater extent than with a configuration in which the swinging amount is adjusted according to the distance "from the motor shaft to the linking point of the first link and the second link," as per conventional practice.